Human smugglers exploited females

15 in ring charged; authorities seek fugitive and girl

Published 10:00 pm, Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Fugitive Harchand Singh is believed to be traveling with a 17-year-old girl smuggled into the U.S. Tips on his whereabouts can be called in to immigration agents at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.

Fugitive Harchand Singh is believed to be traveling with a 17-year-old girl smuggled into the U.S. Tips on his whereabouts can be called in to immigration agents at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.

Human smugglers exploited females

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A smuggling ring that brought illegal immigrants from India across the U.S.-Canada border and into Seattle sexually abused some of their female clients, federal agents and prosecutors said Wednesday.

At least 15 people have been indicted so far on smuggling and conspiracy charges in two related cases, involving the passage of dozens of immigrants across the border into Eastern Washington and through Seattle, en route to other U.S. cities.

In court proceedings and filings, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisca Borichewski said five female immigrants had been raped or sexually abused by members of the ring last month while they were at a house and a hotel in Kent.

Immediately following the Wednesday detention hearing for two alleged smugglers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials asked the public for help in finding a fugitive former Sikh priest -- Harchand Singh.

Singh is accused of being a member of the ring and thought to be traveling with one of the illegal immigrants -- a 17-year-old girl.

"We are very concerned about the safety and well-being of the young woman, who is under the age of 18, who does not speak English and was smuggled into the United States," said ICE Deputy Special Agent in Charge Mike McCool.

"They (the smugglers) exploit them financially; they exploit them physically;, they exploit them emotionally."

A court document paints a stark picture: "Female 1 stated that another unknown male, later identified as Harchand Singh, took her from the house and drove her to an unknown hotel. ... Singh took her to a room in the hotel and vaginally raped her, and told her if she told anyone what happened that he would rape her again and kill her."

Singh then drove her to a house where three other female immigrants where waiting, according to the document. After they learned of the rape, they fled the house and called police, authorities said.

From 2001 to 2003, Singh served as an assistant priest at a Sikh temple in Renton, Gurudwara Singh Sabha of Washington.

"He was not doing what he was supposed to do," Bains said. "We were not satisfied with his job."

The Sikh religion, he added, teaches people to be honest and loyal. "He was not one of those people," he said, declining to be provide further details.

Bains said the federal allegations came as a shock. "I'm stunned; I'm just stunned. Our people -- I think most of us are hardworking and law-abiding citizens."

The women who reported the abuse were taken to a shelter and have been granted immunity from prosecution. They can apply for asylum or other legal status in the United States, said Borichewski and McCool.

Borichewski said the women had been in touch with their families in India, some of whom have been threatened by people believed to be connected with the smuggling ring.

McCool called Seattle "one of the major hubs" in the United States for the transport of smuggled aliens.